CalMatters interviewed five leading candidates who want to regulate one of the world’s biggest insurance markets. Here’s what they said.
Election 2026
Coverage of local, statewide and national elections in 2026.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Billionaire tax proposal on track to qualify for California ballot, backers say
A controversial proposal in California to temporarily increase taxes on billionaires has enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot, a labor union backing the measure said Monday.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California election officials face false choice: Count votes quickly or count them right
California’s notoriously long ballot-counting process has sown distrust in the state’s election systems. But experts can’t agree on how to speed up the process; some say a delayed result is better than potentially disenfranchising voters.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
District 4 County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez points to track record, experience in office as he makes bid for a second term
Current District 4 Santa Cruz County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez spoke with Lookout about his first term, and responded to criticism from constituents over his stance on a battery storage facility proposed for outside Watsonville.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
El supervisor del condado del Distrito 4, Felipe Hernández, destaca su trayectoria y experiencia en el servicio público al buscar un segundo mandato
El actual supervisor del Distrito 4 del condado de Santa Cruz, Felipe Hernández, habló con Lookout sobre su primer mandato y respondió a las críticas de sus electores sobre su postura respecto a una propuesta de instalación de almacenamiento de baterías.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Billionaire blitz: Steyer’s $132 million campaign dwarfs rivals in California governor race
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan dominated fellow Democrats in fundraising, bringing in $13 million, the most recent campaign finance disclosures show. Katie Porter raised $2.8 million, Xavier Becerra brought in $1 million, Antonio Villaraigosa raised $707,000 and Tony Thurmond raised just $62,000.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
A Westside elementary school principal and a UCSC student face off for Santa Cruz City Council’s District 6 seat
Incumbent Santa Cruz City Councilmember Renée Golder faces challenger Gabriella Noack, a UC Santa Cruz student, in the race for the Westside’s District 6 seat. The contest highlights contrasting approaches to homeless services and surveillance technology.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
A look at local candidates’ first pre-election campaign finance disclosures of 2026
Thursday was the deadline for candidates in the Santa Cruz mayoral and city council races as well as the District 4 county supervisor and superior court judge seats to file their first pre-election campaign finance disclosures of the election cycle. Here’s what they show.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Achievement gaps, artificial intelligence and more: State superintendent hopefuls detail their plans at candidate forums
EdSource hosted two forums this week for the top six candidates vying to be California’s next superintendent of public instruction.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Ami Chen Mills envisions a mayorship with more community conversations, leading to more people engaged in politics
Ami Chen Mills, an educator, writer and activist, aims to bring more community involvement to city government should she become Santa Cruz’s next mayor. She aspires to be an educator in office, too, with the hope of getting more people excited about and engaged in politics.
